99 Nights in the Forest: Dino Kid Update Guide
Learn how to rescue Dino Kid, level him up fast, and earn every badge in the 99 Nights in the Forest Dino Kid Update.
99 Nights in the Forest just dropped the Dino Kid Update on July 11, 2026. This one centers around rescuing and raising Dino Kid, a new survivor NPC locked in a dungeon guarded by Alpha Wolves, and turning him into a real asset for your camp.
Once you free him, the work starts. You need to feed him, track down his lost belongings scattered across the map, and keep his mood in check, all while he levels up over several nights. Get him to level 4, and he starts collecting logs for you automatically, on top of unlocking the Babysitting badge.
In this article, we'll explore how to rescue Dino Kid, how to level him up fast, and how to grab every badge tied to this update.
Also Read: 99 Nights in the Forest Jungle Biome Guide
How to rescue Dino Kid and start the event
At the start of a new run, check the bench near the campfire. That's where you'll find the clue pointing you toward Dino Kid's location. Dino Kid isn't just sitting out in the open. He's locked inside a dungeon guarded by Alpha Wolves, so don't rush in without a plan. Clear the wolves first, then use the red key to unlock the dungeon and free him, the same way you'd rescue any other kid in 99 Nights in the Forest.
Once he's rescued, bring him back to your campsite and place him in a tent near the campfire. Interact with him and select Befriend. This kicks off the Dino Kid event and starts the care loop that runs for the rest of your playthrough. From here, keeping him fed, finding his lost items, and managing his mood is what levels him up and unlocks the rewards tied to this update.
Also Read: 99 Nights in the Forest: Everything About Flames
How to Feed and Level Up Dino Kid
Food is the main way to earn EXP for Dino Kid. His hunger bar drops over time, and once it's low enough, drag food near him and press E to feed him. Feeding him while his hunger bar is already full does nothing, so keep an eye on it before wasting food. Not all food gives the same EXP. Better quality food means more EXP per feed, so it pays to plan ahead instead of tossing him whatever you have on hand.
Besides feeding, Dino Kid has four lost trinkets scattered across the forest: Lunchbox, Yo-Yo, Crayon, and Plush. The Dino Kid bench quest tracker shows clue locations on your map, and the search radius gets tighter as you upgrade your campfire. Bring each item back to him for extra EXP.
The Crayon tends to be the hardest to track down, often turning up in tricky spots like the military base. The Plush is locked in a cage in a newer map area, and you'll need Cultist Gems to retrieve it.
Also Read: 99 Nights in the Forest: Everything About the Tool Trader
Every Dino Kid badge and how to earn it
The Dino Kid update comes with six badges, each tied to a different part of the care and survival loop.
- Playtime: Give Dino Kid 10 different items that trigger unique interactions. Experiment with what you feed and hand him, since not every item just adds EXP; some spark specific reactions worth tracking for this badge.
- Babysitting: Reach Dino Kid Level 5. This is also the point where he starts pulling his weight around camp by collecting logs automatically, so it doubles as a useful milestone beyond just the badge.
- Warding: Survive the hardest Cultist attack, triggered once you've found all four trinkets: Lunchbox, Yo-Yo, Crayon, and Plush. Survive it, and you earn the badge, along with a Gem of the Forest and Cultist Gems as a reward.
- Dino Kid Tape 1: Keep him protected for 5 nights.
- Dino Kid Tape 2: Keep him protected for 25 nights.
- Dino Kid Tape 3: Keep him protected for 60 nights.
For all three Tape badges, unhappy nights don't count toward the total. If he's cold, hungry, or needs sleep and you don't address it in time, that night gets wasted. Staying on top of his needs consistently is the only way to hit these badges, especially Tape 3.
conclusion
The Dino Kid Update adds a lot more than just a new NPC to babysit. Between the rescue mission, the feeding grind, the trinket hunt, and the six badges tied to it, there's a solid amount of content to work through here. Keep his mood in check, feed him quality food like Stew, and track down those trinkets early so you're not scrambling later on for the Warding badge.
